SPOKANE, Wash. – Kevin Moon, a former Whitworth University player and assistant coach, will serve as interim men's soccer coach for the 2023 season, according to Pirates' Director of Athletics Tim Demant.

"Kevin knows Whitworth, the Northwest Conference, and our team," Demant said.  "He's a proven winner and I believe he can hit the ground running with a team that has the talent to win now.  Kevin, with his knowledge of the players, style of play and soccer expertise, is the right person.  In addition, Kevin already knows, and has previously coached, several of our current players."

Moon owns and operates the Spokane Soccer Academy, which focuses on the technical development of school-age players up to 19 years old.  Moon has also been on the staff of the Spokane Shadow / Sounders organization since 2001, serving as a coach for all age groups with the boys' and girls' programs.  He is currently the Director of Coaching for the Spokane Sounders Girls' program.

Moon served three stints as an assistant coach at Whitworth under several head coaches.  He was an assistant coach for the women's team from 1992 through 1996, when the Pirates won a pair of NCIC titles under Damon Hagerott.  He was an assistant coach for the men under Sean Bushey in 2001 when the Pirates won a conference crown.  Moon returned as an assistant coach with the women's program from 2010 through 2015 under both Hagerotts – Damon and Jael.  He was back with the Pirate men under Morgan Cathey in 2018 and 2019.

Moon was a Pirate player from 1988 through 1991, winning three conference championships under Whitworth Heritage Gallery Hall of Fame coach Einar Thorarinsson. 

"I am humbled and honored to serve as the interim head coach for Whitworth University," Moon said. "I am also excited for the opportunity to serve the players of the program and to help set an environment for them to grow individually and collectively as athletes and as men."

Moon takes over a team that finished 8-9-3 overall and 5-7-2 in the Northwest Conference in 2022 under previous head coach Jeremy Payne.  The Pirates return several starters from that team, including the last two NWC Rookies of the Year (Beckett Arthur in 2021 and Tyler Wisen in 2022).